—detail from “Wise Woman of the Portal” Cat Charissage (c) 2015

Dear Friends,

I wanted to tell you about an amusing and serendipitous moment in my recent travels.  I was in the airport, waiting interminably to be allowed to board my flight, when I noticed a man “of a certain age”, i.e., about my age, standing nearby.  He had earphones on, listening, I thought, to an ipod or whatever.  He was very handsome, looking fit and prosperous, and was slowly pacing around the small confines of our lineup.  Suddenly I heard him say, “You are so beautiful!” and when I looked up, there he was, looking right at me!

Well, it only took a second to realize what was going on:  he had been on a phone call, not just listening to a program, and he was speaking to whomever was on the phone, not to me.  But suddenly he, too, realized what had happened — that I had thought he was speaking to me —- and he flashed a most delightful, apologetic, yet understanding smile.  In that moment I felt him silently saying, “And yes, you too, Cat, you are so beautiful!”

We went on with our day, but both of us with a small smile in our hearts.

And you, my readers, yes you, you are so beautiful!

With love,

Cat